99 A8 phone cradle upgrade

[Anan1]

Hi all,

My 99 A8 has a factory fit Nokia phone kit, complete with Nokia 3110 phone. Is there any way I can upgrade the cradle to a more modern phone without losing functionality?

[Figure11]

Audi do replacement dor their cradles. Either Generation 1 or Generation 2.

From the list I got from the Steeler, for Generation 1 you can get from Motorola upto the V635, From Nokia the latest is the 7250i from Siemans the latest is the CX75 and Sony Ericsson the K700i seems to be that latest. Some resonable fones there.

Here is the link to the document in German

http://www.audi.de/etc/medialib/cms4imp/audi2/reports.Par.0073.File.pdf

Can't find it in english

Mike

[Anan1]

That's great, thanks! I was surprised to see that they do a cradle for the Nokia 6234, which is a current 3G phone! It's €180 from Audi here, but I guess that's just in tune with my overall running costs! Also, has anyone here already replaced their cradle? The spiral caple just seems to go back into the armrest, I can't see any easy way of disconnecting it to fit the new cradle?

[IT_S8]

There 3 different types of in car phone that I'm aware of in the D2.... The pre facelift, (upto about 1998) had either a phone, or a cradle, with a disconnectable cable. I beleive these units are discontinued... ?

Then from about 1998 to 2000 they did a fixed Nokia 3110 phone, which as you rightly say doesn't appear to be disconnectable at all. It wasn't Audis intention for the user to ever change this me thinks.

Then from around 2001 till 2003 they had the cullman phone adapter kits, which do allow a wider variety of phones to be used, but still nothing really bang up to date from what I've read. The connectors on the 1998 and 2001 looks really similar, but they are different.

The generation I kit in the PDF link above I think is the 2001-2003 type phone kit, with confirmation of that given by the post facelift armrest it is seen popping out of.

The generation II kit stuff I guess is for the later D3 Audi A8s, but never seen one so cant be 100%..

I'd check very carefully before shelling out mega bux at a stealer for a cradle as I dont think it will work for you..

[Anan1]

I think you might be right there, although my car is a facelift the spiral cable appears to be effectively permanently fitted. Are the armrests easy to disassemble? I had a quick look today, and couldn't see any obvious way in.

[IT_S8]

The plastic side of the armrest pops off, it should come off with your hands quite easily. This then reveals a number of screws down the sides that when undone will release the whole inside of the armrest. Dont get excited though, I did the same thing, only to find the cable just disapears down the centre of the armrest, still with no unpluggable connector !!

[jaimiebrown]

[ QUOTE ]

Then from around 2001 till 2003 they had the cullman phone adapter kits, which do allow a wider variety of phones to be used, but still nothing really bang up to date from what I've read. The connectors on the 1998 and 2001 looks really similar, but they are different.

[/ QUOTE ]

I seem to have a cable that comes out of a neat, purposeful hole at the bottom of the armrest and plugs into a connector just below the armrests between the seats. Is this the Cullman phone kit of which you mention? I've currently got a sony T610i in the bracket and was thinking about buying a pay-as-you-go SIM card but would rather just use my Nokia 6280.

Actually, I'd rather go Bluetooth, but I guess you can't have it all!